The devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in California severely damaged the original 158 year old academy building in Golden Gate Park, giving the organization a chance to start over. So they took their time (a full ten years) to create a super energy-efficient green-roofed building[8] that includes an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, as well as a world-class research and education program. The first LEED Platinum rating[9] was awarded based on the building’s superior design and construction, but the latest certification under the USGBC’s “Existing Buildings: Operation & Maintenance” category acknowledges the incredible strides taken to ensure that every aspect of the museum’s day-to-day operations are as earth-friendly as possible.

Of the 80 points available, the Academy received an unprecedented 82. This is for achieving the very best marks in sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy use and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in the design process. Here are a few specific highlights: 100% of the building’s computers are energy star-rated[10] and 100% of the paper used in the building is composed of post-consumer recycled content[11]. Up to 65% of the Academy’s waste is recycled or composted (including the waste of the 5 million visitors who have walked the lush corridors to date), and 70% of the staff use alternative transportation to get to work. The Academy uses 32% less water than the average building, while 100% of the roof and 80% of the surrounding landscape consists of indigenous vegetation[12]. Finally, the Academy continues to share their learning and love of nature with ongoing education programs. This is definitely a crowning achievement that the rest of the world can look to for inspiration.